The eighth edition of Dubai International Print Award (DIPA) will be held on April 28, 2014. The DIPA 2014 will be the biggest yet. Last year for the first time Flatbed Digital Inkjet category was added to the list and for 2014 more categories including Gravure and flexo will expand the scope of the awards. In collaboration with Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and organized by the Printing and Publishing Group, DIPA recognises exceptional talent, innovation and excellence in the regional printing industry. Submissions are now open to printers and publishers across the award categories, and the deadline for entries is April 15, 2014. The Printing and Publishing Group is expecting an increase in award entries from last year, when more than 600 entries from eight countries were received from across the region.
The award ceremony is taking place at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel, Dubai, on April 28, 2014, and will be attended by professionals and influencers from the region’s printing and publishing industry. A new category has been added for DIPA 2014, which seeks to find leadership in the Rotogravure, or engraved images category, relevant to label and flexible packaging material.
Chairman of the Printing and Publishing Group, Mr. Mohammad Al Hashimi, said: “We’re pleased to announce the upcoming 2014 Award which will be our largest yet. With the recent Dubai Expo 2020 win, we are expecting a surge in growth in the printing industry as a whole, and we are sure to see even more leading-edge printing technology solutions in 2014.”
“The Dubai International Print Award– now in its eighth year- is unique because it is the only award of its kind in the GCC and, over the years, has positioned itself as the definitive platform from which to gauge the quality and excellence of the region’s printing and publishing industry. We are looking forward to receiving the nominations from both previous and new entrants in the market.”
Mazen El Tibi, Sales & Marketing Director for Heidelberg Middle East FZCO, Gold Sponsors of DIPA, said: “Each year, the DIPA judging panel continues to be taken aback by the quality of the nominations in each category. In recent years, we have seen great improvements in the innovation of printing techniques, to achieve consistent colour management; faster time-to-market; and a range of more cost-effective solutions in the region, to name a few. Heidelberg is fully committed in supporting this event which brings the region’s printing companies to the limelight, and we therefore maintain our Gold Sponsorship of DIPA.”
Mahdi Al Mazim, Director, Customer Service Centers, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry , said: “We are pleased to continue our long relationship with the Dubai International Print Award organised by the Print and Publishing Group, which is one of the 26 active business groups operating under the umbrella of Dubai Chamber. The annual award, which caters to our strategic objectives of supporting the development of business and promoting Dubai as an international business hub, is a significant motivation for printing and publishing companies in the country. This is even more important for 2014 as we come ever closer to hosting the World Expo in Dubai in 2020. It encourages all printing establishments to compete to receive their fair share of recognition in the industry, locally and regionally. We wish this eighth round of the award continued success.”
A highly accredited international panel of judges will choose the winning entries. The judges for DIPA 2014 are Nicholas Jung, consultant in printing technology and education ,Hemanth Ranadive from FCB Ulka India, Eduard Neufeld, Institute Director of Fogra Graphic Technology Research Association and Vice President of the German Federation of Industrial Research Associations, Dr. Saad Aldossary , Consultant and Trainer of Printing Technology from KSA, Karl Kowalczyk, consultant printing technology and Daniel Siegel from UPM Kymmene.
For further information and entry criteria, please visit www.ppg.ae